Horizon 2023 TE Matthew Klopfenstein commits to Baylor Bears football
Phoenix Horizon junior tight end Matthew Klopfenstein announced on social media Thursday afternoon that he has committed to the Baylor Bears to play college football.
Klopfenstein, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, who made The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona last season when he led the Huskies to the 5A state championship, has the ability to flex out on plays and come in to block.
He had more than 20 football scholarship offers. He is a three-star recruit by 247Sports Composite with Arizona and Arizona State both offering, along with the Pac-12's California, Colorado, Oregon State and Washington.
He had 45 catches for 575 yards and 10 touchdowns last season for the Huskies, who beat Tucson Salpointe Catholic for the state title. He is rated the No. 8 overall prospect in the Arizona Republic's Big 150 for the 2023 recruiting class in Arizona.
Baylor is a great fit for Matt," Horizon coach Andy Litten said. "They are a Christian school and Matt is very committed to his faith. It also helps that they utilize the tight end position so well. He fell in love with the campus when he made the visit."
It is Klopfenstein's versatility that stood out to Litten last year when he took over the program, moving from Chandler Hamilton, where he was offensive coordinator.
"At Horizon we put him everywhere on the fields due to his athletic and physical ability," Litten said. "Baylor is getting a tight end that is athletic enough to put in the slot or at split end, a receiver that is big and can go up and get the ball, and a big strong blocker that can play in the box and make any block an H-Back is asked to make.
"He's a problem in the slot because if you put a smaller player in front of him, he is a lights-out blocker. And if you put a bigger linebacker on him, he can run right by him."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Horizon 2023 tight end Matthew Klopfenstein commits to Baylor Bears
